Bradley Smith will start his challenge for a second successive British Moto2 podium from the second row of the grid after producing his best qualifying performance of the season in blustery conditions at Silverstone this afternoon.
The Tech 3 Racing Team started the session confident he could challenge for a front row place on the grid for only the second time in his Moto2 career after finishing an impressive third on the combined practice timesheets.
He carried the momentum gained in practice into qualifying and Smith put his Mistral 610 machine in contention for the top three throughout in a session dominated by a fierce and unpredictable wind.
It looked like his best lap of 2.08.844 would secure him his best qualifying result since he was third on the grid in Mugello last season, but a late charge from Catalunya winner Andrea Iannone bumped him back to fourth.
Smith was only 0.228s behind compatriot Scott Redding and heading the second row of the grid is the 21-year-old's best startign position since he was fourth at the Twin Ring Motegi in Japan last October.
Smith produced one of the standout performances of 2011 at Silverstone when he put on an overtaking exhibition in atrocious conditions to fight his way from 28th on the grid to second. Having demonstrated his fast and consistent pace all weekend, Smi th is brimming with confidence that he can battle for the rostrum again in tomorrow's 18-lap race.
The strong and unpredictable winds that have battered the super fast and technical Silverstone circuit all weekend has made it a difficult return to action for Xavier Simeon. The Belgian rider missed the previous round at Catalunya after breaking bones in his left hand and foot following a heavy qualifying crash in Le Mans.
Simeon has been building up his speed and confidence again on the Mistral 610 machine and he was able to lap well over a second quicker in qualifying than he managed in practice. A best lap of 2.10.987 put Simeon in 24th place on the grid.
Bradley Smith 4th 2.08.844 – 18 laps:
“Today continued our excellent weekend and right from the start of practice yesterday we have done a fantastic job and been right in contention for the top three in every session. That has been a great boost for all of us at Tech 3 Racing after a difficult start to the season and I can't wait for the race now. We've found a really good setting with the bike that gave me a lot confidence and even in really tricky conditions today I was fast and competitive. The wind made it really tough to control the bike but that lap of 2.08.8 was just about perfect and I thought it was good enough to be on the front row. It is a shame that I just missed out, but having not started from inside the top 10 all season, I'm not complaining. We need to see what happens with the weather but the bike feels really good on worn tyres, so I believe if I am in the hunt for the final laps then we have a great chance of being on the podium. That would be amazing for the British fans an d for the crew at Tech 3 Racing who have been working incredibly hard to put me in this position.”
Xavier Simeon 24th 2.10.987 – 16 laps:
“It hasn't been an easy return because my injuries are still giving me some pain but in every session I am gaining strength and feeling more comfortable. The disappointing aspect is that I am not as close to the top 15 as I hoped to be. I am making improvements and getting faster each time I am on track but I am still not as quick as I need to be. The target will be the top 15 again but it is painful to change gear and also braking is difficult without maximum power in my arm. I have to thank the staff at the Clinica Mobile because they have done a great job but I know it will be a long and difficult race. This is a physical track with lots of fast changes of direction and the win d has also put extra stress on my body. If I can battle my way into the points I will be very satisfied and be physically stronger in Assen.”
Tech 3 Racing Moto2 Press Release
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